Newcastle Falcons have announced the signing of Worcester Warriors lock Darren Barry, who will arrive in the summer. The 6 foot 6 second rower, 29, joins after four seasons at Sixways.
Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Darren is a player I have watched and admired for some time now, and he will help bring a real abrasive edge to our forward play.
“He offers size and physicality in the engine room, he is an experienced performer who goes very well at the front of the line-out and I’m excited about what he can add to the group.
“Darren is in the slightly unusual position of helping Worcester to battle for their Gallagher Premiership status in competition with the team he will be joining, but he is a great professional and will rightly continue to give his absolute best during the remaining time he has there.”
A captain of Filton College in his schoolboy days, Barry represented England Under-19s and began his professional rugby journey with his native Bristol, moving to Cornish Pirates before joining Worcester in the summer of 2015.
He said: “I’m delighted that Newcastle Falcons came in for me and that I got a contract sorted out early. I’ve been up there a couple of times with my girlfriend looking for somewhere to live so we can get settled in early.”
Currently helping Worcester’s fight for Gallagher Premiership survival against his future employers, Barry insisted: “I will be fully committed to doing the best I can for Warriors for the rest of this season. I can only control what I can do, which is playing as well as I can when I am given the chance.
“While Worcester doing well is to my detriment next season it’s not something I can control. There’s no point worrying about what might happen to Newcastle – playing well for Worcester is all I can do for the rest of the season.”
Making 80 appearances for the Warriors, he joins Greg Peterson in the Falcons’ summer influx, the American international lock having signed from French club Bordeaux-Begles.
Newcastle Falcons’ next game is at home to Northampton Saints on Friday April 26. For tickets call 0871 226 6060.